Karen Keller
When your boss is the office bully a very different picture emerges. It’s like dealing with a spoiled child who rants and raves knowing nobody will say anything for fear of risking the unemployment line. They act out because they can. They are insecure, compensating for little or no leadership, have a strong need for perfection, and find every reason to place blame anywhere they like.
What can you do to tame this ugly monster? Quitting would suffice. But you like your job, have invested years toward senority and enjoy your co-workers. Here are 5 tips that will help you tame the "tyrannical" boss:
- Maneuver around them. Know the best time to approach them. Avoid right before lunch, Monday mornings, or when the stock market collapses.
- Know when to find the exit. When fireworks start going off, don’t hang around for the show. If this is unavoidable, let your boss vent first. Watch, listen, smile and ask a question. Any question will do.
- Train and task. Train your boss by setting regular meetings. Organize your tasks and his or her tasks as well. Set the priority and upon completion, reinforce how mutual and respectful work made it happen.
- Reinforce the WIIFM. Bosses are like everyone else. They are much easier to deal with when they know What’s In It For Me. Watch and see how flexible they become.
- Practice CPR: communicate, predict, and roll. Communicate openly, predict problems AND solutions, then roll with it by being a positive, proactive problem solver.
